Senegal are refusing to hand back their AFCON trophy and have threatened legal action after they were extraordinarily stripped of the title.
On Tuesday night, the football world was stunned as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made the unprecedented move to reverse the result of the tournament, awarding Morocco a retrospective 3-0 win 58 days after they lost.
The final was mired in controversy, with Senegal protesting against an injury-time penalty by walking off the pitch before eventually playing on, saving the Panenka penalty and winning 1-0 after extra-time.
The fallout has been as extreme as the chaos at the final itself and the Senegal FA have now struck back at CAF with a furious statement.
‘The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unjust, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which discredits African football,’ it read.
‘In defense of its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate, as soon as possible, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.’
Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye shared this image on his Instagram page after Senegal’s FA insisted they would not be handing the AFCON trophy back
Abdoulaye Sow, Secretary General of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), also insisted the trophy was going nowhere, telling Le Soleil: ‘The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is corrupt, and the reactions worldwide following this decision confirm total outrage.
‘The FSF president is in discussions with all those involved. The fight is far from over.
‘I want to reassure all Senegalese people. Senegal has the right and victory is on its side. The cup will not leave the country.’
Following an official complaint by the Moroccan FA after the final, CAF launched an investigation, the result of which was announced on Tuesday.
They declared ‘the Senegalese national team to have forfeited the final, with the result being officially recorded as 3-0 in favor of Morocco’.
They added that an appeal from Morocco was ‘admissible and upheld’ after Senegal’s behaviour ‘infringed Article 82’ of its regulations. A series of further fines relating to the match were also issued.
Senegal’s stars reacted defiantly to the ruling, with Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra and Rayo Vallecano’s Pathe Ciss both posting pictures of themselves with the trophy.
Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye took to Instagram, defiantly writing: ‘Titles, trophies, medals… all of this is fleeting. What really matters is that every supporter can go home and meet his family.
‘The Senegalese people have shown what they are: worthy in victory, worthy in ordeal.’
West Ham left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf wrote: ‘The trophy is won on the pitch, not by email. Goodnight.’
Back-up goalkeeper shared a snap of the team lifting the trophy and wrote: ‘Champions in the eyes of the whole world.
El Hadji Malik Diouf and Pape Cisse shared defiant posts after the controversial ruling
Sadio Mane and Co lifted the trophy back in January after a hugely controversial game
‘This is the Teranga. We know what we experienced that night in Rabat. And no one will be able to take that away from us, inch’Allah.’
In the fiercely-contested final itself the game descended into chaos late on.
In the 98th minute in Rabat Senegal’s players made their exit in protest at an earlier goal and the awarding of the later penalty. They were off for around 17 minutes as chaos unfolded with Senegal fans attempting to invade the pitch.
Senegal eventually returned after being persuaded by former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane to come back on.
Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz took the penalty which was saved by former Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy and the game went into extra-time – where Senegal triumphed thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye to give them what they thought was their second AFCON title in five years.
However, Morocco appealed and in a stunning decision CAF have taken the extraordinary step.
A fine for Morocco’s Ismael Saibari was dismissed, and he also had a suspension reduced. An appeal against a fine for the behaviour of ballboys was partially upheld, with the amount being reduced.
Morocco’s appeal against interference in the VAR area was dismissed with a $100,000 fine confirmed.
In a statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said: ‘[We] have taken note of the decision issued by the CAF Appeals Committee.
‘The Federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.
‘The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions.
‘It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the AFCON, which has been a major moment for African football.’
